How Much Power (Watts) Does An Electric Iron Use?
An electric iron is a very small and often used household appliance that main purpose is to remove wrinkles and creases from clothes and fabrics. Modern models come with a water reservoir that provides steam during ironing. But what each of us is interested in is how much electricity they consume. Did you know that an electric iron box contributes 5% of your electricity bill? In this article, we’ll go through how much power it uses and how it will affect your electricity bill at the end of the month.
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How Much Power (Watts) Does An Electric Iron Use?
So How Much Power (Watts) Does An Electric Iron Use? Typically, the electric iron use between 800 to 2000 watts of power, while the average power consumption is 1100 watts. If you use an 1100 watts electric iron every day for 15 minutes, you will consume 275 watts per day or 8.2 kWh per month which will cost you about $1.06 per month.
Although electric irons consume only about 5% of the electricity in our household, it is important to choose the right model to save as much energy as possible. Most electric irons on average use 1100 watts and are used for about 15 minutes a day. Therefore, if we use an electric iron every day for 15 min, it can cost us $1.06 per month.
The best way you can reduce the power consumption of your electric iron and thus save energy is by hanging or folding the clothes right after they have been dried in a drying machine. Another great tip is to hang your clothes in the bathroom while you are taking a hot shower. The steam will produce the heat and can help eliminate wrinkles and ironing can be avoided.
If you want to buy an energy-efficient electric iron, be sure to check this model on Amazon!
The most used electric irons and their power consumption:
| Model: | Power (Watts) | Electric Cost Per Hour |
|---|---|---|
| Maytag M400 | 1500 Watts | $0.19 |
| Rowenta SteamForce DW9280 | 1800 Watts | $0.23 |
| Steammaster Steam Iron | 1400 Watts | $0.18 |
| Bajaj MX35N Iron | 2000 Watts | $0.26 |
| Sunbeam Hot-2-Trot | 800 Watts | $0.10 |
Always make sure that you unplug the electric iron from the outlet when you are finished with the usage and never leave it unattended. Also don’t leave an electric iron facing down when it is heated, instead place it in the correct standing position and make sure that the iron is cooled before you return it away.
If you want to know How Much Power (kWh) Does a Blender Use, read this article.
How Do You Calculate Electric Iron Power Consumption?
Electric iron is the household appliance that is used to remove the folds from our cloth. The working principle of how this device works is by ohm’s law. The resistance circuit that is located inside the electric iron box emits the heat when the electricity flows through it. There are two ways on how you can get the real power consumption of electric iron. The first is by using the basic data and calculate it, and the second is to use a measuring device called Kill A Watt Meter.
1. Using The Data And Formula
By using the simple calculation we can find out how much power does electric iron consume per day, per month, and per year. Electric Iron power consumption E (kWh) in kilowatt-hour is equal to the electric iron wattage P (W) in watt times of operating hours (H) that is then divided by 1000. The formula is the following,
E = P(W) x H / 1000 [kWh]
Example:
Here we’ll use the basic example and see how much electricity (power) does an electric iron box consumes per hour, per day, per month, and per year. The model that we’ll be using is Rowenta DA1560 Travel-Ready and it will be used for 2 hours per day. The power consumption of this electric iron is 1000 watts per hour. Hence, per day it will consume 2 kWh, per month it will be 60 kWh, and per year 720 kWh.
Here you can also use the Electric Iron Calculator to get the precise data.
Electric Iron Box Power Consumption For 2 Hour Period:
| Electric Iron Usage | Total Power (W) | Power Consumption (kWh) | Electric Bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | 1000 Watts | 1 kWh | $0.13 |
| Day | 2000 Watts | 2 kWh | $0.26 |
| Month | 60000 Watts | 60 kWh | $7.80 |
| Year | 720000 Watts | 720 kWh | $93.6 |
2. Using The Measuring Device
By using the measuring device Kill A Watt Meter we can easily find out how much power does an electric iron consume. Kill A Watt Meter is plugged into the outlet and then it is attached with an electric iron. All the electricity that goes through that device will be measured. This measuring device is very affordable and can be used for all-electric devices in your home. You can find it here on Amazon.
How Much Does It Cost To Run An Electric Iron? Example
If you are seriously thinking about how to start saving electricity and calculate how much does your electric iron spends, then you must know the following data:
- What parameters of the electric iron affect the energy consumed during ironing.
- How often do you use electric iron and how long it takes to iron.
The rated power of the electric iron is the main indicator by which you can quite accurately say how much energy is consumed during use.
For instance:
- The power of the electric iron is 2200 W. During the period of 1h of ironing it will consume 2.2 kW.
To determine the approximate costs, you need to determine how often you use the iron and how long it takes. For example, you will use electric iron most likely after washing, if we count washing 3 times a week, then most likely you will iron 3 times a week for 20 minutes. In total, we’ll get 1 hour per week.
We Calculate The Consumption of Electricity:
Using the electric iron for 1 hour:
- Consumption will be 2200 W (for an iron with a power of 2200 W) = 2.2 kW
Using the electric iron for 1.5 hours:
- Consumption will be 2200 W x 1.5 = 3.3 kW
Using the electric iron for 1 month:
- Consumption will be 2200 W x 4 = 8.8 kW
We’ll use the average electricity price of $0.13 for 1 kWh. Here are the results of how much we spend on an iron per month.
Total: 8.8 kW x $0.13 = $1.14 we will spend a month for an iron (in theory)
Note! It should be noted that the iron works at full power only in heating mode. When it is heated during ironing, energy consumption is reduced. Ironing consumption is equal to 40-50% of the power consumption.
Essential Parameters To Know How Much Electricity Your Iron Use
Here are the parameters that are essential to know how much it will cost you to run electric iron:
- Watt [W] – This is the unit of power that measures the rate of some device and how much it consumes energy. Kilowatt [kW] is the same unit of power and is obtained by dividing watts by 1000.
- Kilowatt Hour [kWh] – By this unit, we get how much some device consumes energy per hour, and it is used on our electricity bills. If we have electric iron that runs on 1000 W, we’ll get that the power consumption will be 1 kW per hour or 1 kWh.
- Operating Time [hours] – This data tells us how much a device (electric iron) has been working. If you use your electric iron for 30 minutes per day, then it can be written in the form of 0.5 hours.
- Electricity Price [$/kWh] – Every state/country has its own electricity tariff that is used to calculate how much you will pay for every 1 kW that you consume. In the US, the average price for 1kWh is around 13 cents.
Types Of Electric Irons And Their Power Class
Small Electric Irons (800W – 1300W)
Small electric irons have a power consumption range between 800-1300 watts and are classified as low-power appliances. They are designed for infrequent use: on the road, or when you need to iron something in a hurry. These types of models are in demand among frequently traveling or nomadic people.
Nominal Electric Irons (1300W – 1600W)
Nominal electric irons have a rated power that ranges between 1300-1600 watts. These types of electric irons are not large in size, or in weight and they are intended for one person or a small family. They are able to easily iron products made of non-coarse fabrics: T-shirts, trousers, shirts, sheets. This type of iron model is in high demand.
Average Electric Irons (1600W – 2000W)
The average power of electric iron is somewhere between 1600-2000 watts. You can notice that the energy consumption is higher in this group. Electric irons with such power can iron well not only thin fabrics but also dense ones, for example, denim. They are very popular with consumers.
High Electric Irons (2000W – 2400W)
The professional electric irons have a power consumption of between 2000-2400 watts. They are used in laundries, sewing workshops, small hotels, etc. And even for housewives who always strive to have well-ironed linen.
The Higher The Temperature The More Power Iron Uses
Electric iron uses the most electricity when heating the iron. As you set a higher temperature, it requires more power (watts) to heat it up. The heating temperature that electric iron use is around 130-degree Celsius (266 Fahrenheit) all the way up to 270 degree Celsius (518 Fahrenheit) to remove wrinkles from the fabrics.
For electric iron to attain this temperature, the device uses the heating element called Nichrome (20% chromium, 80% nickel). When the electric iron is powered it uses an electric current that flows through that heating element and heats it up. When the iron box reaches the desired temperature, the bi-metallic strip inside cuts the current flow to that heating element and prevents it from overheating.
Typical power consumption of electric iron:
| Basic Model | 350-1200 Watts |
| Steam Iron | 1400-3000 Watts |
Electricity Consumption During 1 Hour Use
The maximum power is only reached when the iron is heating up. This is followed by a period of maintaining a certain temperature, which partially saves electricity. On average, the consumption during ironing is reduced to a ratio of 40 – 50% of the value that is indicated on the label.
If you make an approximate calculation of the electricity consumption per hour of work, for example, with an iron of 2000 W, you will get the following indicators:
- Heating to maximum temperature (5 minutes, flow rate 100%) – 167 W;
- Temperature maintenance mode (55 minutes, flow rate 50%) – 917 W;
Total power consumption for 1 hour: 1084 W or 1.084 kW.
Electric Iron Power Saving Tips
Manufacturers are increasingly applying energy-saving technologies to modern equipment. The buyer of the electric iron needs to carefully look at its technical characteristics in advance. Each package of such product must be labeled with an energy efficiency label.
Here are the tricks & tips that you can use to reduce energy consumption:
- Iron a large amount of laundry at a time.
- Turn off the electric iron after you are finished.
- Use the residual heat, turn off the iron 10 minutes before the end of work.
- Try not to spread more water than it is necessary while ironing.
- By using the Hanger you will reduce the need for an iron box.
- Use the lower temperature while ironing the clothes.
- Use the modes as correctly as possible when ironing different types of fabrics.
- Buy “no-iron” clothes such as non-iron fabric, polyester. This will make you use the iron less often.
Related Article: How Much Power (Watts) Does a VR Headset Use?
Final Thoughts
There is a big variety of electric irons on the market, and their power consumption varies a lot. The main priority when choosing an electric iron is the price, functions, and power it has. As we mentioned before in this article, the average power consumption is between 800 to 2000 W. Regardless of which model you choose, the newly purchased electric iron will become an assistant in the household and will allow you to quickly cope with the necessary tasks.
When choosing an iron, do not forget about the electrical wiring in the house. Excessive loading can cause a short circuit and fire. Residents, especially those who live in old houses, should pay attention to this and give preference to low-power electrical appliances. I hope that this article helped you!
